How to become an astrobiologist

I often get emailed by people wanting to know how they can get involved in astrobiology – what A-levels or university degree they should pick to become an astrobiologist, or just how they can find out more about what’s happening right now in the field. So I thought it would be useful to compile my various responses into a single post here.

The encouraging reality is that you can get into astrobiology from pretty much any scientific background you like. I did a first degree in biology, but I have astrobiology friends who have come from physics, astronomy, chemistry, or geology. Astrobiology is a very ‘interdisciplinary’ field and sits as the Venn diagram overlap in the middle of many different kinds of science, and this breadth and diversity is exactly what makes astrobiology so exciting.

Europa (credit: NASA)

Unfortunately, there aren’t any dedicated undergraduate degrees in astrobiology in the UK, although several universities do offer a module as part of a wider degree in, for example, geology, planetary sciences, biology, or physics and astronomy. So the best route would be to work hard at A-levels, and then choose a degree in whichever subject you find most interesting – you really need to be passionate about something to study hard at it for three to four years. My little secret is that I found biology my least interesting course at A-level (not that my teachers were any less inspirational than those for physics, chemistry or maths) – it’s a lot of learning the names for things, labelling diagrams, and memorising five-point essays on DNA replication. But, building on this base of knowledge, it really blossoms into an incredibly fascinating subject at undergraduate level – learning about the molecular machinery that makes life work, for example.

So if you want to become an astrobiologist, you could study pretty much any STEM subject at university.

Also, bear in mind that you don’t necessarily need to enrol to actually attend as a student – the Open University offers courses, including a module in astrobiology, by distance learning. The University of Central Lancashire offers a University Certificate in Astrobiology. Another good option for nurturing an interest is to take a MOOC (massive open online course) such as this one run through the University of Edinburgh, although you won’t get course credits towards a formal degree. Other online courses include the series of lectures recorded and made available on AstroBioVideo.

If, once you’ve graduated with your degree, you still want to be an astrobiologist you can move into the field by applying for a PhD studentship. If you’re lucky, you might see something relevant advertised in the back pages (or online) of magazines like NewScientist or Nature journal, but for a relatively niche field like astrobiology you’ll probably need to be a little more proactive in finding a good opportunity for further study. The best strategy is to identify a research group that is involved in the part of astrobiology you are interested in – whether that’s extremophile microbes or astronomical searches for exoplanets – and contact the PI (principal investigator) of the group to ask whether there are any PhD positions available. It would be a very good idea to first have an explore around the group or lab’s website and read some of their recent papers, so you’ve got a good appreciation of what they do and how that fits with your own interests. This is slightly out of date now, but I published a paper in 2009 that surveyed the astrobiology research groups active in the UK (download pdf here) that might be helpful to get you started. For those interested in opportunities in the US, there is a little advice about the NASA Astrobiology Institute.

There are also societies you may be eligible to join to keep yourself up-to-date with developments and for support throughout your career. Postgraduate students, post-docs or staff members can join the Astrobiology Society of Britain (I sit on the committee of the ASB). As a member of the ASB you’ll be able to attend their biennial conference and will receive regular newsletters listing PhD and post-doc opportunities and upcoming meetings and other announcements, and the website provides a lot of other useful information, including book reviews of the past few years of publications. Another society that may be of interest is the UK Space Biomedicine Association (UKSBA), who also host regular conferences open to all. I’m also a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (it’s only £1 to join as an undergrad or postgrad student) which I’ve found to be really useful.

If you want to keep abreast of recent advances in astrobiology there are a number of great websites to scan through regularly. My favourites are the Astrobiology magazine and NASA Astrobiology, and for space exploration in general there are of course the NASA and ESA homepages. And finally, if you want to get a book or two for a solid overview of the whole of astrobiology you can sink your teeth into some of these recommended reads. Obviously, I’ve cheekily slipped my own on the top there, but the list below gives a range of great books that are pitched at slightly different levels:

(and for a more complete list, I’ve edited reviews of over 60 new astrobiology books on the ASB website)

Also bear in mind that if you’re interested in astrobiology and space exploration there are many different ways you can get involved in your career. As with any field of science, there is a huge range of jobs available besides research or lecturing at university: you can work in project management and administration (helping space missions get funded and co-ordinating their construction and operation); or in the press office and inform the media and public about what’s going on; or as a journalist writing about the latest discoveries in newspapers, magazines, websites or books; or get into science policy and making sure the government makes well-informed decisions about new laws or funding or other priorities.

I hope this has helped and you may also find my Astrobiology Q&A interesting. If you have other questions do feel free to ask through Twitter or email, but please make sure you’ve read through the comments below to check that your question hasn’t already been answered. Here is a (incomplete) list of astrobiology organisations around the world that would be far better placed to offer you help on national questions:

332 comments

Thank you so much for this information. Having completed the ‘Astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life’ MOOC on Coursera last year (and doing it again this year just for fun!), my hunger for this subject has become insatiable, made all the more so due to the apparent lack of courses/available study materials specific to Astrobiology, and not a combination of the Sciences. This may sound lazy, but I am so glad this interdisciplinary subject – as you put it – is gaining more interest. I received an email from Edinburgh University this past week asking me to complete a survey, the purpose of which being to determine the amount of interest potential students have in a Masters in Astrobiology. How exciting!!! I will definitely be checking out the links and list of books you have provided. Thanks so much!!! <3

Hi Cereja, I also took this course in 2014 passing it with distinction of 94,6%. Professor Charles Cockell is a great scientist and teacher as well. The thing is I’m from Málaga, Spain and I don’t know if the University of Edimburgh has any kind of course or something for international student. I’m taking my second year at a biology degree in order to meake my dream come true which is no other tan becoming an astrobiologist in a future. I’d like to get in contact with you if you know about this survey or about how I can get involved with them. Thank you.

Sir I’m Jay from India
I love astrobiology. BSc in which field can help pursuing astrobiology further?? Can astrobiology be done directly after 12 th grade or a bachelor degree is needed. Can I do BSc in India then astrobiology abroad Is it fruitful
Or I should do both BSC and Astrobiology abroad.Ive good scope for USA

Hello.. jay sir I’m divya also from india . I need yr help about in this branch (astrobiology ) now i completed my B.Sc.(from bio).plz tell me now what should i do. For astrobiology. Pl give me reply..

Thank you so much for answering this question! I am only in high school, but once I heard astrobiology was a newer but fully real field, I got so excited! For years now I have adore physics and math and particle chemistry, but was really torn because I had an amazing biology teacher this year! When I learned there WAS such a field that contain d all of those similar interests, I was so excited! Thanks once again for the info!

Thank you so much for your information. I am also very much interested on Astrobiology, I am still trying for my PhD in Astrobiology. I have contacted so many of them, but only some of them have sent positive reply. I have also got couple of PhD opportunity, but I cant find funding for it. Your detailed information is very useful for all.
Thanks again.

Hi Basab, the best way for you to get into astrobiology research after your MSc would be to find universities near you that are involved in research into bacteria surviving in very hostile conditions – the extremophiles

I have wanted to get into space science since childhood, but I am pursuing medicine, (MBBS) and I cannot find any careers related to medicine in space. Can I get to astrobiology through medicine? If yes, then what are the steps?

I do know astrobiologists who have got into astrobiology from a medical background, yes. The other possibility you could look into is to pursue space medicine – i.e. what effects the space environment (such as microgravity) has on the human body and how best to protect astronauts.

Dear Sir
I have pursued my B.E. (Bachelors in Engineering) in Electronics and Communication. Currently I am pursuing my M.Tech in Astronomy and Space Engineering. I came across Ph.D projects in astronomical instrumentation in UCL (University College of London). I would like to know whether there are any opportunities for Ph.D projects in astrobiology in UCL and if so whom should I contact? Eagerly waiting for your reply
Thanking You
Anjana

Hi Anjana,
I’m no longer at UCL, but there is still some astrobiology research going on there, as part of the UCL-Birckbeck Centre for Planetary Sciences. Search for Prof. Ian Crawford at Birkbeck and send him an email.

Hey! I’m a first year student of B.sc. Life sciences from New Delhi,India. I don’t consider my math and physics too great but biology,chemistry and astronomy interest me.. Astronomy to the extent that even if I have to restart my schooling for perusing astrobio, I wouldn’t give it a second thought.

I am going to start Bsc(H) in 2015 in Earth systems and I always had a great interest in Astrobiology, could you tell me how I can link the two such as any extracurricular subjects recommended (I looked into my local university and offers some part time courses in Astronomy but stops there) I have Biology A level and Physics at Intermediate level. Thank you !!!

Hi David,
I know lots of Earth Scientists/Geologists who got into astrobiology after their first degree. You could focus on biological aspects of your course (such as geomicrobiology), and read around the subject of astrobiology on websites and books. Your lecturers also might be able to point you in the right direction

Thank you so much sir……..but i have a problem that should i choose every subject (like-planetary science,cosmology,molecular biology etc.) or i have to be specialised in only one subject???? (like either in cosmology or planetary science)

Yes, absolutely. I know of a number of people involved in ‘space medicine’ which is all about understanding what happens to astronauts’ bodies whilst they are in space, and working out how to stop the negative effects

Hi Lewis
I’m an amateur astronomer with RAS membership and I’m very interested in getting into the field of Adtrobiology. My background is Environmental Science. I have a BSc(Hons) and MPhil.DIC in this field. I have recently being offered an unconditional place on the MSc in Planetary Science at UCL, starting in Sept 2015, which I wanted to use as a stepping stone for doing PhD in Astrobiology. My concern is that the level of physics and maths on this course may exclude me from successfully completing it. Do you have any knowledge of this course and whether a good understanding of astrophysics and maths is necessary to successfully complete it? Any help would be gratefully received.

Hi… I am a student of Cell and Molecular Biology.I am a third year undergraduate university.I’m interested in a lot of activities in the field of astrobiology.I would like going to college to master degree in my county.but I do not know exactly what I can do for my master that become accepted in all countries in the field of astrobiology.Please help me in this regard, thank you.

I have my B.S degree in English Education and my Master’s degree in Journalism. I am a TV news reporter. I have applied to Univ. of Edinburgh to get a Graduate certificate in global environmental science. I am going back to the beginning and re-taking Algebra, Geometry, Trig and Calculus in order to get another Bachelor’s degree in Astronomy.
I would like to utilize all of the environmental reporting I have done as well as the global environmental science classes.
My goal is to get a Master’s degree in an area that will encompass the knowledge I have of environmental issues on Earth, the courses I take in Astronomy and use them toward a degree in planetary studies. Would this be the correct course of action?

Hi Kathleen,
Yes, that sounds like a very sensible course of action for combining your past expertise with new training and moving into planetary science. What you should also look into is that at Univ. Edinburgh there is an astrobiology centre run by Charles Cockell, and he may be able to advise further on opportunities there in combining environmental sciences with space.

i have passed my Master of science in Geology from calicut university in India 1992. i have been working in oil field for 21 years with financial problem could not continue further education that time. which is the course i can study to serve the science field? specially on line. Astro geo,biology etc.

Hello, I am happy to see many posts pursuing this science! I too am intrigued and would love to work for programs in new mexico maybe las alamos or las cruses.. I wanted to know if nasa takes people with at least a ba in any science?

Hey Lewis,I wanted to know if I could study Astrophysics after studying Geology.I am so much amazed by the interstellar phenomena like pulsars,neutron stars,black holes,etc.As you’ve said that one can take Astrobiology after studying Geology,I wanted to know if Astrobiology covers all these topics as I’ve decided to take B Sc in Geology.If not can you suggest me how I can study those subjects after Geology?

Hi Karthik, as the article explains, there is a lot of geology involved in the field of astrobiology. Astrophysics as a discipline, however, overlaps much less with geology. But you can always move fields after studying geology

this was so helpful. i am only a highschool student in australia but i have been interested in science pretty much all my life. is there anything highschool students can do to get involved? let me know at arbuckle.liam@gmail.com

Hi Liam, well there are certainly lots of good books on astrobiology that you can read-up on while at high school – I’ve recommended a few in the article. But if you’re lucky, you might also be able to arrange a short work-experience or summer internship in a research lab in Australia that is involved in astrobiology. Try getting in touch with the Australian Centre for Astrobiology for advice

I am currently doing the CREST awards in highschool and I’m doing a topic on astrobiology. Any other books (fiction included) that are worth reading plz tell me about them. And yes, I have already purchased the books at the title. #LEWISDARTNELL4PRESIDENT (or at least of astrobiology) 🙂

Aside from the popular science books recommended here, there are an awful lot of sci-fi novels which are related to astrobiology and aliens, yes. I loved Carl Sagan’s ‘Contact’, and I’m also a huge fan of Stephen Baxter, Ken MacLeod, and Alistair Reynolds.

Thank you for taking the time to write this article I really appreciate it. I’m currently in my first year of A-Levels and so a lot of this information was really helpful to me. I’m very interested in the field of astro-biology. I used to want to be a doctor but I realised that isnt what captures my interest. Astro-biology on the other hand is a fascinating field of study and I’m really hoping to contribute as much as I can to it.

I am 21,I’ve just finished my final year exams of masters in microbiology and waiting for result. Sir, what should I do now to get admitted in astrobiology…
If I go for p.hd in environmental microbiology….or molecular microbiology… Which one will help me to get my Aim…

Sir I would like to know whether a Bsc degree in Applied Biology is eligible to continue higher studies on Biological sciences specially Astrobiology.I’m very much interested in those fields.Would like to know whether there are significant PhD programmes on Astrobiology?

Hi sir. I am from India. I have completed my +2 this year ..i am very intersted in biology and universe ..currently im going to canada for my course medical office adminstration..but i am very much intersted in astrobiology..Is there any way i can do astrobiology after completion of this course or if yes than by which university ??

Sir,
I have completed my 12th standard. I wish to be an astrobiologist in future. And I want to do engineering. So can I study with astrobiology after completing B.Tech? Which branch in engineering will be more applicable to have a degree in astrobiology then? Can I take Biotechnology or Computer Science as my stream?
I will be really grateful if you answer my question kindly. I thank you.

Thank you a lot sr.
This is a great kick-starter article for any instered on astrobiology or biology student as me.
I know there are some telescope on Chile so I’m gonna investigate a bit.
Kind regards from Argentina!

Thanks a Lot for the article. I have few questions sir,
I am very good in biology and chemistry but lack in Maths and Physics( Numerical part of it) So initially I had gave up on my idea of becoming an astrobiologist. But as you mentioned that a Masters degree from any Science Course is all right, what should I do if I complete a Masters in Biology to pursue astrobiology?
Also, how can I work at NASA as an astrobiologist?

Yes, I got into astrobiology from a biology background. You don’t necessarily need strong numerical skills, as might be more important in astrophysics, for example. After Masters level you would need to find a PhD position in a university research group in a field that interests you, and this could be relevant to astrobiology

Thank you for the information sir.
I am currently pursuing a degree course in bachelor of pharmacy(B.Pharm).And, i wish to get involved into astrobiology in any foreign country where opportunity is available.So, i request you to please guide me for further studies which universities would i be eligible to get a course study on astrobiology.

I don’t know of institutions around the world that offer a full taught course in astrobiology. So as the article explains, you could either take an online course or if you want to continue in research you could seek out a PhD position at a lab. I’ve updated the blogpost above to now provide a link to some advice from the NASA Astrobiology Institute (https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/careers/astrobiology-career-path-suggestions/)

Hi there, thank you for your article. I am choosing my A Levels at the moment and was wondering if you could point me in the right direction about what to take if I am interested in astrobiology/planetary science? I am thinking about taking Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Geography – sadly no Physics. A reply would be greatly appreciated!

Hi Freya, I got into astrobiology with A-levels in Bio,Chem,Phys and Maths, and then a degree in Biological Sciences. But I know lots of astrobiologists who got into it from a geology or chemistry degree, and so that might be a good route for you too.

Sir I have completed my Masters degree in zoology ( oceanography ) and am working as biology professor and I have a hardcore interest in astrobiology after reading the details above am truly inspired to learn astrobiology.
Thanks for compiling the information for everyone of us 🙂

Hi Lewis, Thanks for giving me a little bit of renewed hope! Always fascinated by the ‘Astros’, I studied first Astronomy and Space (UK)and that is when I found my passion for Astrobiology, so I went on to study another undergraduate degree in Microbiology,(UK) hoping to make an “Astrobiology” qualification from Astronomy and Microbiology! For 3 years now I have been trying to find a PhD to continue research and “get into Astrobiology”. I have become quite disheartened since then but your article, although I know I’m late in finding it, has renewed my determination! Any practical advice as how to go about finding a PhD in Extremophiles or a related theme? I am able to relocate absolutely anywhere to continue my studies. Any thoughts at all would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards and congratulations on a wonderful trajectory in your profession.
Rosalia.

The best source of information for astrobiology PhD opportunities in the UK would be to join the Astrobiology Society of Britain. In particular, a lot of extremophile research is done at the universities of Bristol, Leeds or Edinburgh

So many book reviews, thank you – but is there any there I can buy for my 12 year old son who dreams of becoming an astrobiologist ? I’m looking for something that will teach him some science but inspire him too. Any advice welcome.

Hello Sir! Your article was very helpful. I am currently in the final year of my Biochemistry major, India. I want to pursue my higher studies in Astrobiology. There are no masters courses in astrobiology in India as of now and i can’t do my masters abroad due to family constraints. Which subject should I chose in masters for landing up in Astrobiology field? Should I opt for Life Sciences or Biotechnology or Biochemistry?

Physics…the sheer size of our universe is so huge, the speed limit of light governs how fast any probe can travel to other worlds to detect life elsewhere..
Geology…the soil on Mars is mostly iron..plants can’t grow on that..(or could it?)
Chemistry…Luckily, new findings confirm the presence of intermittent flow of H2O on polar regions of Mars..What’s next?…Life (biology)?? 🙂
Math…it’s simply the language of the whole universe (or perhaps other universes??) – many-world theory

I’m currently pursuing STPM (A-level-equivalent) in Malaysia as a private candidate (since I’m too old to go back to formal school), taking all these four fun-to-learn subjects. Hopefully after this I can pursue my studies in uni to do research in astrobiology. Thanks Mr Lewis for the inspiration. 🙂

sir iam from india and im in 12th grade
im in the medical stream( i dont have maths)
can i do astrobiology? if yes then how? nd what are the criterion? what will be the steps…i mean can u plz temme in which subject i should do graduation, masters etc?
please kindly tell me the whole procedure.
it will be very greatful of you ^_^

Hi Noya, you can get into astrobiology from pretty much any science field. Medicine doesn’t directly overlap, but there are jobs in space medicine and astronaut health, or you could transfer your skills into astrobiology

Hi;
Thanks a lot for helpful guidance, I am a high school Student and want to study in Medical Science and after get that’s degree come to USA and study Astrobiology.
Can I become an astrobiologist by this way ?
please help me….

Hi sir, the article is really very helpful. I’m in high school and will be in 11th grade next year. I’m not as much interested in maths as I am in physics, biology and chemistry. So just wanted to ask you whether not taking up maths in class 11th will affect my career in astrobiology in particular? If yes, then to how much extent?

While not always absolutely essentially, maths is certainly helpful in pursuing science subjects, and particularly physics. It depends on how numerical you want your career to be, but you won’t necessarily be held back without it

I am currently an MSc student and my area of expertise is Structural Biology (I have a BSc in Biology). I have always been attracted by Astrobiology and lately I’ve been thinking about changing field after my masters degree. I believe it is not an impossible thing with my background, however i’m confused about my next steps. What do you think would be the best area to study on my PhD in order to move towards this way?

Hi Sage, no that’s certainly not an impossible move! Structural Biology has strong links to biosignaures and the signs of life that we would look for on other planets and moons. Look for labs that do this sort of research and ask about PhD opportunities

i want to be an astrobiologist when i was 10years.now i have finished my o/l.now i have selected science scheme for a/l(biology,physics,chemistry).should i select maths sheme to achieve my goal.(chemistry,combined maths,physics)please give me an answer.

hi Lewis I have this huge project called I-search and so then I chose are we alone in the universe so i have to interview two people so i was wondering if i could interview you as one of my interviewees so i was wonder if you could answer back whether saying yes or no because i was reading your article and it looks like you are pretty well educated on the topic so please respond thank you

I’m afraid I don’t know about astrobiology courses in all the countries of the world. You would need to research what courses are offered in your own area. I would suspect that you won’t find a full undergraduate degree in astrobiology, but it might be included as a single module within a degree.

Hi Sir,
I have read your articles about astrobiology. specifically I have few qusetions. I completed my schooling with 88% in science group as above you have said that medical students too can take, but is there any undergraduate course for space medicine? or rather to apply gaining a graduate degree?

There are certainly Masters courses in space medicine – I know that Kings College London offers MSc in Space Physiology & Health. But I don’t know about undergraduate courses in space medicine. Have you tried Googling? I would suspect that you’d need to take an undergraduate degree in medicine first, and then specialise into space medicine.

Hi, I am currently doing an undergraduate course in medicine but I have always wanted to explore and know more about the universe. I have always been fascinated by space exploration.I know I can get into space medicine but would that be exciting? I would love to pursue astrobiology but is there a future in the field? I am interested but I am also afraid. What should I do??

Whether you find a particular field of research or career exciting is more down to you, to be honest Ally. Astrobiology is a rapidly growing field of science, e.g. in terms of extremophiles research and more and more exploration missions are being launched through the solar system by ESA and NASA, as well as other space agencies.

Astrobiology is a very ‘interdisciplinary’ field and sits as the Venn diagram overlap in the middle of many different kinds of science: microbiology and extremophiles, biochemistry and the origins of life, geology, physics, astronomy, robotics

Yes, there are links from extremophiles and their enzymes to biotechnology. One good example is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which uses an enzyme called Taq polymerase that still works at very high temperatures, as it comes from the thermophile Thermus aquaticus isolated from hot springs and hydrothermal vents.

There is no such thing as an average monthly salary for an astrobiologist, just as there is no such thing as the average monthly salary for an accountant or a computer programmer or a designer — it depends enormously on where in the world you are, who you work for, what level you are at, etc. What I would say, though, Salman, is that if you’re concerned about how much money you will earn, a career in academia is perhaps not for you…

Hey
Sir I m lad of 18 nearly completing my 12 th from the nepal . N I wanna be an astrobiologist but as per country there is no any institution or university providing education for me . So please sir help me to get to my aim n dream .
Is there any way or somehow like scholarship type for forgein student( Nepalese) directly or through embassy of uk or us?

Hi Lewis,
Thank you for a great read! I’m currently in my 2nd year of Biology at Imperial College London, and will be based here over summer. Where would you recommend applying to for an internship/work experience in an astrobiology related field? The more I read about this area of research, the more exciting it seems – it would be great to find out more, perhaps in a lab-based setting.

Hi Anna,
Imperial does have an astrobiology-related research lab, with Zita Martins and Mark Sephton working on organic molecules in meteorites and comets, and thus how we could detect such chemistry on Mars. Look them up and get in touch. Nick Lane at UCL may also be able to accommodate a summer student on his origins of life project. L

I have been following this article for awhile, and a year later I am now at the stage where I have to decide my course at university. Which is a better route into astrobiology, biochemistry or chemistry? Do they lead into different aspects of astrobiology?

I am able to take four extra modules at university, which ones would you recommend? I fear that if I choose biochemistry then I will need to take more chemistry courses and that if I take chemistry then I won’t be doing enough biology, but I also want to be well rounded as (like your article said) it is a multi disciplinary field.

I need to pick between the two asap but am drowning in vague research.. I would really appreciate your help.
Thank you,
Sarah

Hi Sarah,
Both biology and biochemistry are equally valid routes into astrobiology. I came from a straight Biological Sciences background, and I have lots of colleagues who did biochemistry, or even straight chemistry. At the stage of an undergraduate degree it doesn’t really matter, to be honest. You’ll be able to specialise in astrobiology, if you still want to, further down the line. Chemistry, focusing on organic chemistry, is very useful for studying the origins of life, whereas biochemistry links more into extremophiles and different forms of metabolism of terrestrial life.
L

Dear sir , I have recently completed my 12th science in biology group with flying colours.I have got 90 % marks in biology and physics too. I want to go in astrobiology carrier because I am not eligible for astrophysics because of mathematics. Which program of undergraduate should I go first? Please tell me the pathway for become astrobiologist.

Congratulations on your results Krutarth! As I explain in the article, a degree in pretty much any science subject will set you up for moving into astrobiology if that’s what you want to do: biology, chemistry or physics.

HELLO LEWIS!
To become an astrobiologist has been a dream since my childhood and now i am doing A levels (physics,chemistry,biology,mathematics).I just wanted to know which subject should i be taking after my A levels and which subject i should be currently focusing on currently in order to become a successful astrobiologist . Similarly, i would also like to know where are the good centres in order to pursue my dream.I would be really greatfull to you..
THANK YOU!

Thanks sir!
Then after doing biology in bachelors, i can seek for astrobiology in masters or i should i do bachelors in astrobiology, which one do u think would be more effective for my furture and career….
THANKS A LOT FOR ALL THE INFO,!

Hi.
I currently am a student of Mumbai University, studying Electronics Engineering. I just finished my 3rd Year Exams, and will now be in my final (senior) year in the coming weeks.
I want to pursue a career in Biology Research. I’m interested in studying Molecular and Cellular Biology for Masters’ Degree.
I have trouble shifting from Engineering to Biology.
My goal is to be an Astrobiologist, and getting a masters’ degree in Molecular Biology will get me closer to my dream goal.
Can you please guide me to how can I shift from Engineering to Biology?
Should I apply for a correspondence course for Biology to make the transition simpler?
I’m also preparing for GRE Exam, should I also appear for subject specific GRE (for Biology)?
Thank you for bearing with me.
Have a good day.

Hi Akshay, sure, you could get into astrobiology from a masters degree in Mol Biol, but also there’s lots of overlap from electronics engineering into astrobiology already. All of the scientific instruments placed on space probes, including e.g. Mars rovers, are designed and built by electrical engineers, so that’s something you could get into

Hi, I am only in high school, however I have always been extremely interested in the topic of exoplanets in particular. I know I’m a little late to this party but I was wondering if you could tell me the program I should start out with (if there is a specific one) and where I would go from there. Also one more thing, I love to know if there are any Astrologists that also travel to space, or if there would be opportunity for this in the near future. Thanks.

Hi again, I forgot to mention that ontop of loving the study and discovering/finding of exo planets I am equally interested in actually being a part of the missions to send machinery manned or unmanned to different objects in space and hope to one day be a part of them (the missions that is), whether I’m analyzing results or playing a more pivotal role.

Hi Brian,
if you want to get involved in exoplanets research later, finding a degree at a good university in something like physics or astronomy would be a good start. As for the selection criteria for astronauts, you would need to check the NASA website

Hi Sir,
I am Keerthana and I am in 11th grade. I just developed an interest in astrobiology but I haven’t taken Maths as the main subject now..I am studying science and computers instead. I just wanna know whether that would be problem in future and would computers help me. I am pretty good at science and I was the school topper in environmental applications. Thank you 🙂

Hey sir,
I’m Pursuing B.tech in biotechnology,I’m a 3rd year student and i’m also studying astrobiology from coursera and enjoying the course. Sir, I want to ask that am i eligible for post graduation in astrobiology and is there a scope of astrobiology. Sir I’m also good with computers and most of the things is done with computers so is there any option to get an astrobiologist job who can work with computers and sir how i get this job sir please guide me a path so i can stay focused and can work hard on a particular thing.
thank you

To get into graduate studies in astrobiology (i.e. a PhD) you would need to find a lab doing astrobiology-related research that interests you and enquire about opportunities and funding for a PhD. I use a lot of computers in my astrobiology research, for data analysis and radiation modelling, so you can certainly use your computer skills in the field.

I have selected chemistry physics and biology for al.many people say astrobiology a maths subject and I should select maths scheme to learn astrobiology at the university.is it true.is it a requirement to learn astrobiology.can not I be a astrobiology by selecting Bio science scheme.

I took maths (as well as the three sciences) at A-level and have found it to be generally very useful for science research, but mathematics is not a formal requirement for getting into astrobiology. If you go down the microbiology route into astrobiology, you’ll probably be ok. Depending on the university, you may be able to take an astrobiology module/course as part of a biological degree.

Hi Nadil, there aren’t really complete astrobiology degrees available as an undergraduate, but you might find that a university offers a module in life beyond Earth as part of a degree in biology, biochemistry, geology or physics and astronomy. The normal entry point into astrobiology is for Masters or certainly PhD research.

Your lecture at Bluedot Festival was inspiring! I found you made the subject seem accessible and its so nice that you take the time to reply to the comments here. I am completely fascinated and excited by the future of astrobiology and would love to pursue a career in it, is it very competitive?

Hi Maddie, I’m so glad to hear you found the talk interesting — thanks for letting me know! As the blogpost describes, you can get into astrobiology research through a PhD, from pretty much any scientific background. As a field, it is still relatively small, but no more competitive than other areas of research

I’m afraid that I don’t know of any complete degrees in astrobiology, but as I say in the article, many degrees in geology, planetary sciences, microbiology, physics and astronomy, offer modules in topics like extremophiles, extrasolar planets, and astrobiology.

I’m currently studying for my AS level examination and my subjects are Biology, Chemistry, Psychology and Core maths with statistics. Are these subjects okay if i want to study astrobiology in the future? and also how can i move in from A levels straight to astrobiology?

Yes, absolutely, those subjects are perfect! I studied the same A-levels as you (but swapping Psychology for Physics). But generally for science research you need to study for a degree at university after finishing your A-levels at school.

I am a Sri Lankan so there aren’t that many astrobiology courses in my country! Although i could study something like natural sciences or planetary sciences here. Would that be okay? and also is geology needed for A-levels or is it fine if i had a A-pass for O/L geography?

A degree in natural sciences or planetary sciences would both put you in a good position for a PhD in astrobiology. No particular A-level is a prerequisite for researching in astrobiology down the line

Hi Lewis,
I study A Level Biology, Chemistry and Maths in the UK and will shortly be applying to university here. I am considering either a straight biology/biochem degree or natural sciences, but I am not sure which to choose. Would natural sciences be too broad a background to go into the field, compared to biology which might allow me to research something more specific, such as extremophiles? Conversely, would the broad basis and interdisciplinary nature of natural sciences be more of an asset than pure biology?
Any advice would be appreciated,
Thanks, James

Hi James, to be honest I don’t think it matters enormously with respect to your later options for getting into as astrobiology PhD. I studied Biological Sciences, which was a pretty broad course, and I think you’re right that the interdisciplinary nature of natsci would put you in a good footing. On the other hand a biology or biochem degree would also put you in good stead. Ultimately I think you should choose whichever degree and university you think you will find most interesting/enjoyable and that you feel at home in

Yeah I guess it really comes down to the course that I find most interesting; at the university that I feel most comfortable at, seeing as both options would be able to lead me in a similar direction. I’ve almost finished Life in the Universe by the way, which has been great!
Thanks for the response, James

Hi Sir,
Although it seems impossible alittle,but I want to know if there is a field of study with which I can work with both archeologists and astronomers,astronauts or astrobiologists.Is there any link between them?
I need your recommendation and would be grateful if I get your reply.
Thank you very much <3

Thank you for this great article.
I took my bachelor’s degree in Agriculture and my master degree in Ecology if i took my phd in Astrobiology is there any chance that i would work with NASA? Please accept my sincerly thank.

Hi Steve, yes, gaining a PhD in astrobiology would be an excellent way to start a career in this area of science, and potentially applying for research positions with members of the Nasa Astrobiology Institute

Hello Sir, I’m from India, and I’m currently doing my Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology. Along with Biotech, we’re also supposed to study Chemistry and Botany/Zoology.
I was told that by choosing botany, my chances of doing Astrobiology were reduced substantially, and would probably be shifted towards agricultural development instead. So should I switch to Zoology instead?

hey to become an aterbiology and space explorer it seems like there should be a lot of work involved and the training should begin at under grad. do you have to do a masters in your chosen degree. can you get into asteriobiology with a level 7 degree

Sir I am Tia from India. I am very much interested in astrobiology. I find the subject interesting and fascinating . I always had a dream to become a part of NASA .Can you please tell me that what can I do to join NAI in USA after my completion of my school.

HELLO SIR,
i am Nisarg from India ,studying in 12th science this year . I am interested to become astrobiologist but the real confusion is how to become & what are career pathways to achieve it ? I took physics, chemistry & biology this year ….. is maths also important ? I’ve decided to join medicine college next year.Can i join astrobiology after completing MBBS or MD?
Or should i gain PhD in biology from university?

As explained in the article, there are many routes into astrobiology for different scientific backgrounds. An MD degree is not directly relevant to research in astrobiology, but you can train as a microbiologist, for example

Thank you for this great article! I’m from Brazil and I’m currently working with plants, more specifically with medicinal plants in my Master research but my dream was always to work in the field of astrobiology. Do you know anyone who works with plants in the area of astrobiology that I could possibly work with in my Doctoral? Do you think I have a chance to enter the field even if I work with plants or should I change my area completely?

Hi Elisa,
Plant research and botany isn’t really directly involved in astrobiology itself, but there’s a lot of interest in research on which crop plants would be best suited to be grown in greenhouses on Mars for supporting a human base in the future. Your best bet would be to do searches on news sites for reports on which researchers have been involved in this sort of work, then look up some of their research papers if you can, to get a feel what what they do in their labs, and then get in touch to enquire about any openings for a PhD position

My aim is to become an astrobiologist and work in NASA. Right now I’m in 12th standard, studying (physics, chemistry, biology) I’m weak at maths so can u suggest an undergraduate degree for me which will be helpful for me to get in astrobiology. This has been my dream since I was a kid, and can u suggest some ways to get in NASA?

I would be really grateful if you reply to my answer
Thank you Sir, for the wonderful article.

As the article explains, you can take pretty much any science degree at university to then later move into astrobiology – biology, chemistry, physics and astronomy, geology, planetary sciences. After university you will need to apply for PhD research positions – NASA Ames does a lot of astrobiology research, so look into that

Respected sir,
I have just passed class 12 with 88.7% in overall. I aimed for astrobiology from my childhood. So, i want to do graduation in biology. But sir should I do b.sc ( honors) or b.sc ( general ) in biology , kindly help me please.
Thanking you…..

hello sir, can one study bsc environmental science and then do a Msc in planetary science and become an astrobiologist? is the path right or should i choose any other subject like biology or geology for my undergraduate program?

Thank you sir. I have applied for bsc.environmental science in a university at Delhi and will be looking forward to do Masters in planetary science.I hope this is a right decision. My privilege to receive a suggestion from you.

Sir, how do astrobiologist really work, kind of projects given or any other ways?
And sir, I want to know the latest research of finding aliens?
And also sir I have read that Stephen Hawking -our great scientist has told to stop searching for aliens or they will know our position they can harm us, so what we should do in this condition?

hi sir…..i am from India and i just have completed my b.tech mechanical engineering.i chose mech in order to get into aeronautical.but now i realized that i am not interested in rocket design but to study about the origin of universe and life…what shall i do now? can i become an astrobiologist after b.tech mech?

hello sir once again i have taken biology in 11 and 12 so i don’t really know much about Physics and Maths
So sir is Physics and maths required for further study in astrobiology or how much physics and maths is required?

Hello, sir . I am doing a BSc Bioscience course (3 years). It is an interdisciplinary course in which I have to study Physics, chemistry, math, and Biology for first two years. Can I do masters in evolutionary biology and then go for astrobiology or is there any integrated Astrobiology course globally which I can apply for?
Thank you for the article.

If you’re interested in learning more about astrobiology from a formal course, then this might be a good idea for you. But a diploma course would probably not be a necessary prerequisite for pursuing a research career in astrobiology by applying for PhD positions in relevant labs

Hi! I live in turkey and i am last year high school student.I wanna be astrobiologist.But not in here turkey,ı wanna do my job in UK.What should i do for it? There is no good education chemistry-biology or pyhsics here but i dont think the universities in UK accept me. I even dont know how to apply 🙁 Help please

My advise would be to check with individual universities in the UK, if that’s where you want to study — I don’t see why you couldn’t enrol in undergraduate science degrees as an international student, although the fees may be higher.

Thank you for all the answers!! They solved many of my questions.
May I asking? Will it be better if one has a biology undergraduate degree with an astronomy degree in master to study astrobiology? Though I certainly know they are two very different professional fields, I have been so obsessed with astronomy since junior high and now seeking an undergraduate degree in biology and computer science, which I also find intrests in. Thus I really want to study more about astrobiology in the future. However, in my country, there is no such a major as astrobiology, and I may need to fulfill the future learning abroad, so I am wondering if it is necessary or if it would be better to have the both degrees.

You don’t necessarily need degrees in both biology and astronomy to become an astrobiologist. Most astrobiology researchers focus on one area of this interdisciplinary field – such as microbiology of extremophiles, or astronomers hunting for exoplanets. If you find yourself a PhD position in a research lab that interests you after your first degree, you can always learn any additional information you need then yourself. I came from a biology background, and learned a lot of planetary science and computer programming during my PhD

Yes – astrochemistry is all about the different organic compounds that are produced in interstellar space. Aspects of this are taught in e.g. Masters courses in astronomy or planetary sciences. But you would need to do you own research on which universities you are interested in might offer this in their courses.

Sir one more question i am really interested in forwarding my career in either astrochemistry or astrobiology subject in R&D department and currently i am pursuing Bsc Chemistry in india i want my master’s degree in either subject but my parent’s can’t afford that much money to send me abroad so sir please give me any suggestion on how to look forward to one of these subject.

sir can we easily get job as in R&D department after completing master’s in either planetary science or astrobiology and sir which are the country in which planetary science or astrobiology in either R&D or either any department is progressing or will progress in near future based on this i would like to take masters in those country which have better job prospect for such field….

You can apply for a PhD position either with or without a Masters degree. There is a lot of space exploration and astrobiology work being conducted in the US, as well as Europe and the rest of the world. You would need to do your own research as to where might be a suitable place for you to study.

Sir, I want totally make my base as astronomy doing undergraduate and postgraduate in it but many on website had consulted to do undergraduate in Physics and then go for master’s degree of astronomy and then go for specialization in astrobiology. Is it really important to do science subjects(Maths, Physics or Chemistry) as B.Sc.?I got tensed reading this thing. I just want to study astronomy and astrobiology.

Thank you, sir.
Sir, one more doubt.
If one is graduated in a science subject and now he/she wants to do astrobiology then, is it a course like no. of years you have to study like they did before or one have to carry out their own research sticking to one topic in it or anything else.
Is it perfectly like colloege course doing?
Also, sir is it possible to minimize the 5 years of college course as a person would end up as 23 years age and then he/she would start his astrobiology career?

Riya, as the blogpost makes clear, the main route into astrobiology is to complete an undergraduate degree in a relevant science subject and to then begin looking for PhD projects with a supervisor in a research lab for a project that interests you. You do not need to take an astrobiology course beforehand.

Sir, I am doing undergraduate course in microbiology. After that I aim to pursue m.sc in astrobiology. But in our country no college offers degree in astrobiology course… so, I have decided to move to usa for higher studies in astrobiology…so, sir can you please kindly mail me the colleges(in usa) offering astrobiology as a major in graduate course…Please sir.
Will be highly grateful to you…
Thank you….

Hi,
Ever since I got to know Astrobiology I understood why all these years I kept doubting whatever major which I either have studied or which just passed my mind to continue in my future.
Astrobiology is where I belong!
Right now I am studying Biological Sciences at college. I am thinking to get my undergrad. degree in either Biophysics, (general/ Cellular/ molecular) biology, or Evolutionary biology, or I just go with a double major in Biophysics and Evolutionary Biology. But, I am a little confused about after that and how to get into Astrobiology.
Could you please give me guide for what is best for me to do.

I’m 13 years old and I have wanted to work for NASA since I was 7. My entire life I’ve been criticizing science fiction movies and shows. I actually won a debate with my astronimy teacher about how a superman like being can exist on earth by saying that the planet that they are from has more gravity than earth so when they reach earth they can “fly”. This website is extremely helpfull thank you so much.

sir i am planning to do a masters degree in astrobiology at mcmaster universiy canada.so after completing my 2-year degree programme can i get a job in any area astrobiology subject in canada without doing Ph.D??

Sir,I am from India right now studying in grade 10. What course should I choose after 10 to get my basics in astrobiology.i want to work at Nasa for doing research for existence and correlation of living beings in universe and about the existence of aliens.Can I apply to USA university after 12 that provide PhD in astrobiology???

As the article says, you don’t need to take a specific course on the basics of astrobiology – study a degree in any of the sciences listed. You would need to explore with US universities for what degrees they offer, and then apply for a PhD in related research afterwards

Loved this article! (Austrobiology lol)
I’m a 3rd year medical student from India who has dreamt of studying evolutionary biology since 9th grade but sadly my parents wanted me to study medicine. Even now I’m constantly searching for any programs which will allow me to study Exobiology and Evolutionary Biology after graduation.
I’ve emailed a lot of scientists and read up on the application process of universities. IARC (Indian Astrobio Research Centre) has recommended that I pursue a degree in Astrobiology outside India.

My question is: what postgraduate should I choose after my undergraduate degree (MBBS)? My interests are Microbiology, Virology and Evolutionary Biology. My mom keeps telling me to go for Community Medicine (I have no idea why)

Hi Rachana, I’m afraid that I cannot advise on specific course options. What I would say is that I don’t think there are really degrees in Astrobiology anywhere. If you do decide to shift careers from medicine then you would be best off studying a further degree in a basic science that interests you most. All the ones you listed are good options. If you still want to, you can then move into astrobiology by finding PhD projects in appropriate research labs

Thank you for this article Lewis! I wanted to go into astrobiology ever since I was a little kid (although I didn’t really know the term for it for a long while). I now have a degree in molecular biology but I find myself more interested in the research for technosignatures. So my question is, given my background, what would be your advice to get into that field? (For reference, I am UK-based and am open to anything! Also, I’ve dabbled in a bit of bioinformatics and programming throughout my degree if that’s worth anything).
Also it is so good to see so many people keen on going into astrobiology, I’m hoping the field becomes mainstream!

I’m about to study my PhD in Aquatic Biology. I have a BSc in Biology already. What are my options if I want to be an Astrobiologist after my PhD? I want to be a post-doctoral university Astrobiology researcher…………..does it matter that my PhD is not in Astrobiology? Thank you for any advice you can offer.